Albert Pope 1890 in California

[overlandermatt]

I am trying to find out a little more about my grandfather's eldest brother - Albert Edward Pope b1890 in East Stonehouse, Devon. I have never really looked into his life in much detail - possibly because I have never taken out a Worldwide subscription for Ancestry or FindMyPast. Anyway, I think the time has come to try and find out a little more about him if anyone is able to help...

He was the son of a Royal Marine sergeant, Benjamin Pope and went into the Royal Marine Light Infantry following in family footsteps at the age of 13 after his father died suddenly in 1902. He left the service, invalided out in 1908 then married Emily Armstrong in 1910. After that, I have very little information about him that I have records for.

I do know that he went to the US with his wife and that there was a son called Gordon. I believe he went to Inglewood in Los Angeles and perhaps he worked as a musician at some stage. It was an option for my father to go to stay with him during WW2 but he never went and I don't believe he ever returned to the UK to see the siblings he left behind.

It would be great to see any information that exists on this man. He took a very different path to his brothers and I do wonder what he did. Thank you in advance for any information that might be out there that can be unearthed.

[Erato]

FamilySearch is free.  It has 1730 US data sets, including all of the censuses up to 1950 and 73 sets specific to California.

[overlandermatt]

FamilySearch is free.  It has 1730 US data sets, including all of the censuses up to 1950 and 73 sets specific to California.

Thanks Erato. That's really helpful. There looks to be a lot of information there!

[Neale1961]

USA Naturalization record - 2 May 1927 Los Angeles
Albert Edward Pope
Arrival date in USA from Canada - 12 May 1924


The son Gordon Hamelton Aubrey Pope was born in York Ontario Canada 18 Feb 1912

1921 Canada census has the Pope family at
84 Falling Creek Rd  York East, Ontario.
Albert working as a labourer.

USA census has Albert working as a school custodian.

Find a grave entry
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65924375/albert-e-pope

[overlandermatt]

Thanks Neale1961. I will look at that further - I had seen a different naturalization record card from 1930 on the FamilySearch. There's quite a bit to go on - I haven't looked at the census records just yet but will do.

Thanks again.

[shellyesq]

Gordon's obituary is here - https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-obituary-for-gordo/183500262/  Sounds like he had an interesting life, as he was an oboe player and played on a number of famous films. 

[shellyesq]

Albert's declaration of intention for naturalization:  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSMM-6S7L-2?view=fullText&keywords=ALBERT%20EDWARD%20POPE%2CAlbert%20Edward%20Pope&lang=en&groupId=

Obituary for Emily, Albert's wife - https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-obituary-for-emily/183501473/

[shellyesq]

Gordon's wife also had a very detailed obituary - https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-madisonian/183502316/

[overlandermatt]

Gordon's obituary is here - https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-obituary-for-gordo/183500262/  Sounds like he had an interesting life, as he was an oboe player and played on a number of famous films.

Thanks Shelly - that's really great to see and a very interesting obituary. I think there is still a bit to piece together for Albert - quite a bit of information to gather in the UK and then Canada before he gets to the US. I see the family lost a baby daughter at birth after they had Gordon. I think he was the first Pope relative to head to the Americas to settle. I don't think he ever returned to the UK to visit - my father born in 1937 tells me he never met him.

Very interesting details to add to my grandfather's wider family story so thank you.